Hawaii legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii SB3233: Relating to Agricultural Workforce Housing.
Status: In committee, May 1, 2026
Requires state agencies, including the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and Agribusiness Development Corporation, that administer agricultural leases, licenses, development programs, or procurement involving agricultural products to award points or preferences to agricultural projects incorporating agricultural workforce housing. Requires a report to the Legislature.
What the bill says
A bill for an act relating to agricultural workforce housing.
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE HOUSING. SECTION 1. The legislature finds that agricultural workforce housing is essential to developing and sustaining the workforce needed to move Hawaii's agricultural sector forward. Agriculture across the State, particularly on the neighbor islands, faces persistent labor shortages driven in part by limited and high-cost housing options that make it difficult to recruit and retain workers. Without reliable and proximate housing, farms struggle to maintain stable operations, expand production, or meet institutional and local food demand. The legislature further finds that agricultural workforce housing produces broad public benefits that extend far beyond individual employers. These benefits include improved food security, greater production reliability, strengthened rural and neighbor island economies, enhanced worker safety, and more resilient communities. Because these benefits accrue statewide and support the State's long-term goals for food production and economic diversification, it is appropriate to recognize 2026-1098 SB3233 SD1 SMA.docx Page 2 S.B. NO. S.D.1 agricultural workforce housing as a public good worthy of incentive, rather than impose new regulatory mandates on farmers. The legislature also finds that Hawaii's agricultural workforce is experiencing significant decline and demographic pressure. According to the United States Department of Agriculture's 2022 Census of Agriculture, the total number of farms in Hawaii has decreased by approximately ten per cent over the most recent reporting …
Sponsors
- Dela Cruz, Donovan (D, 17) · primary sponsor
- Michelle Kidani (D, 18)
Latest actions
- : Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:00 PM; Conference Room 411.
- : Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 12:45 PM; Conference Room 325.
- : Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 9:15AM; Conference Room 325.
- : Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-30-26 9:30AM; Conference Room 325.
- : Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-29-26 9:30AM; Conference Room 325.
- : Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-28-26 9:30AM; Conference Room 325.
- : Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-24-26 11:00AM; Conference Room 325.
- : Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 811).
- : House Conferees Appointed: Chun, Miyake, Kusch Co-Chairs; Matsumoto.
- : Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 718).
Votes
- Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1) (April 9, 2026): 49 yea, 1 nay, passed
- FIN: recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (April 7, 2026): 15 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Qu (March 30, 2026): 46 yea, 1 nay, passed
- HSG: recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (March 25, 2026): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on HSG with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1) (March 20, 2026): 49 yea, 1 nay, passed
- AGR: recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (March 18, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Report, Housing, DOA, Reports, Agricultural Workforce Housing
Common questions
- What is SB3233?
- SB3233 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Relating to Agricultural Workforce Housing.
- What does SB3233 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act relating to agricultural workforce housing.
- What is the status of SB3233?
- In committee as of May 1, 2026. Latest action: Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:00 PM; Conference Room 411. (May 1, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB3233?
- Dela Cruz, Donovan (D, 17), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB3233?
- On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=3233&year=2026
Source: official Hawaii record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.